23 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Jose Urquidy (forearm) made his second minor league rehab start on Saturday. The right-hander got smacked around for three runs in 2 2/3 innings during his start last weekend. He didn't do much better this time around allowing four runs on seven hits over four innings of work. The good news is that Urquidy feels better and says his velocity should increase during his next start. The right-hander should be able to return to the Astros rotation in late May or early June.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
23 hours agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Luis Garcia (elbow) was able to throw a successful bullpen session on Saturday. The right-hander is working his way back from Tommy John surgery he underwent in May of last year. The team has been taking it slow, but Garcia was able to throw 20 pitches on Saturday without any issues. The hope is that Garcia can continue throwing and will eventually go on a minor-league rehab assignment. The expectation is that Garcia will be able to rejoin the Astros' rotation mid-way through the season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
23 hours agoSan Francisco Giants shortstop
Marco Luciano put together a solid performance against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. The 22-year-old was recalled on Tuesday with the team being shorthanded in the infield. He made the most of his chances on Saturday, going 2-for-4 in the win. The expectation is that Luciano is going to get significant at-bats with
Nick Ahmed (wrist) still on the injured list. Luciano should get plenty of chances to show what he can do at the big league level.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
23 hours agoSan Francisco Giants outfielder
Heliot Ramos continued his hot stretch at the plate during Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies. Ramos went 2-for-5 with two RBI in the blowout win. The 24-year-old has been impressive since getting called up a few weeks ago. So far, Ramos is slashing .297/.350/.378 with 11 hits and seven RBI in 37 plate appearances. The expectation is that both Ramos and
Luis Matos are going to see more playing time with
Jung Hoo Lee (shoulder) being out for the season. Ramos could be worth a look as a pickup in deeper leagues.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 day agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Taylor Ward went 2-for-6 in Saturday's 3-2 extra-innings loss to the Rangers. Both of Ward's hits went for extra bases, one for a double and the other a solo home run. The home run was his tenth of the year, and the 30-year-old is looking like one of the better values in fantasy drafts this year after having an ADP in the 200s. On the season, the former first-round MLB draft pick has a .275-10-28-27-2 line with a .352 wOBA and 127 wRC+.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoTampa Bay Rays right-hander
Ryan Pepiot (leg) threw a three-inning bullpen session on Friday. He has now completed successful three successful bullpen sessions over the week. The 26-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list after getting struck by a line drive in his last start on May 5 against the New York Mets. He owns a 3.68 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts across 36 2/3 innings this season. Pepiot is on track to be activated next week ahead of the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. Fantasy managers might want to see how Pepiot performs if he is activated next week before inserting him into their starting lineups. Pepiot is off to a solid start and is a mid-to-back-end starter for most fantasy rotations in 2024.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
1 day agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Adolis Garcia launched his eleventh home run of the season in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Angels. Angels starter
Patrick Sandoval had held Garcia and the Rangers in check until the sixth inning when the 31-year-old took the southpaw deep to knot the score at 1-1. It was the 2x All-Star's third home run in his last four games, but despite the power surge, he's having a rough May, slashing just .188/.216/.348 during the month. On the season, the powerful righty has a .251-11-35-24-4 line with a .337 wOBA and 117 wRC+.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoLos Angeles Angels outfielder
Jo Adell hit his eighth home run of the season in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Rangers. The homer was a solo shot and Adell's only hit in the contest, although he also walked twice and stole a base. The 25-year-old has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, including four home runs, but is hitting just .250 during that stretch and on the season. Still, it's easily his most prolific offensive season yet as he is slashing .250/.320/.528 with a .364 wOBA and 136 wRC+. Contact% and Barrel% are by far career highs and the K% (24.4%) is finally at a palatable level. The former first-round MLB draft pick is making the most of his regular playing time and hopefully he can keep it up.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoColorado Rockies first baseman
Kris Bryant (back) will remain with Triple-A Albuquerque on a rehab assignment through Sunday. He will make his fifth appearance in Triple-A on Sunday and is expected to join the Rockies for their three-game series against the Oakland A's, starting on Tuesday. The 31-year-old has been sidelined for over a month due to a lower back strain. He struggled to start the season, slashing .149/.273/.255 over 13 games before being placed on the injured list. The veteran has been unable to stay healthy and hasn't played 100 games or more since 2021. Fantasy managers might want to see how Bryant performs before activating him to their starting lineups. Still, the former Chicago Cub is mainly an option in deep-league formats for now until he turns it around at the plate.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
1 day agoBaltimore Orioles reliever
Yennier Cano took the loss in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners. The 30-year-old entered the game in the eighth with the game tied at 2-2 but allowed a leadoff single and then a double that plated one run, then was lifted from the game after recording the first out.
Cionel Perez gave up a double that allowed Cano's runner to score and the O's would be down 4-2, unable to complete a comeback after that. Cano has been mostly solid, posting a 2.95 ERA while recording 10 holds and two saves on the season, although the 1.36 WHIP could use some improving and he's blown two saves.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoTampa Bay Rays first baseman
Yandy Diaz was 3-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays. Since May 3, the 32-year-old is 23-for-60 (.365) with four doubles, two home runs, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, and a 7:8 BB:K, seeing his season average go from .211 to .263 in the process. So far, it's not the type of season we're used to seeing from him over the last couple of seasons but perhaps this is the beginning of breakout. The 2023 All-Star and AL batting champ is still making great contact (89.5% Contact%) and hitting the ball with authority (50.3% HardHit%).
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoColorado Rockies outfielder
Nolan Jones (back) is expected to be recalled from his rehab assignment after Sunday's game with Triple-A Albuquerque. Jones will make his fourth appearance with Triple-A on Sunday and rejoin the Rockies ahead of Tuesday's game against the Oakland Athletics. The 26-year-old has been sidelined since late April with a lower back strain. He has struggled so this season, slashing .170/.240/.243 with a home run and seven RBI over 26 games. Jones still has plenty of fantasy upside after hitting 20 home runs and stealing 20 bags in 2023. When activated, fantasy managers might want to wait a few games to see how Jones performs before putting him back into their starting lineups.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB
1 day agoSan Francisco Giants designated hitter
Jorge Soler went 3-for-5 in Saturday's 14-4 win over the Rockies, including a pair of doubles. The slugger also drove in two runs and scored once. It's worth noting that Soler was penciled into the leadoff spot in both games since coming off the IL, and has gone 4-for-9 (.444) with a walk in those two contests. Shaking things up might just be what Soler needs, as it has been an underwhelming season so far, slashing .219/.308/.383 with five home runs, 10 RBI, and 16 runs scored over 146 plate appearances. He'll get a chance to make it a three-game hit streak on Sunday as the Giants face
Dakota Hudson, who has an ugly 6.13 ERA on the season and Soler is 3-for-9 with a double and four walks against in his career.
--Jarod Rupp - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 day agoCleveland Guardians outfielder
Tyler Freeman had four hits during Saturday's 11-4 win over the Minnesota Twins. The leadoff hitter scored three times, drove in three runs, and added his sixth stolen base this season. Freeman recorded only his fourth multi-hit game, and while Saturday was remarkable, remember that Freeman is hitting .221 with four homers and 16 RBI while sporting a paltry .693 OPS. Freeman's excellent performance is a one-off that should be taken as such and is mainly a fantasy option in deep-league formats.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: Bally Sports Cleveland
1 day agoMilwaukee Brewers catcher
William Contreras' three-run homer off Houston Astros starting pitcher
Justin Verlander proved to be the game-winning hit in Saturday's 4-2 win. Contreras battled Verlander for 12 pitches before the 13th pitch in the at-bat, which resulted in his seventh homer of the season. He enters Sunday's play second in the majors with a .350 batting average, while his 37 RBI has him tied for third in what has become a breakout campaign. Contreras is one of the top catchers in fantasy baseball and managers should continue to roll with him in all league formats.
--Brandon Williams - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
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